New aviation legislation aims to improve the traveler's experience at U.S. airports.

In recent weeks, wait times at airport security have reached epic levels. Checkpoint queues north of 90 minutes have caused thousands of travelers to miss their flights. Some airports have said they’ll hire their own contract workers to take up the slack—and even the federal government is getting involved. Pledging to “help frustrated passengers,” Senate leaders pushed through an aviation bill on Tuesday designed to overhaul the Federal Aviation Administration, bolster airport security, and offer consumer protections for travelers.

The long-awaited measure, which still needs approval by the House of Representatives and the White House, addresses a number of traveler complaints: Among other things, airlines would now have to disclose fees in a standardized fashion so people can more easily comparison shop. It also requires airlines to seat family members together without incurring an extra fee, while consumers would get refunds of fees for services that weren’t adequately delivered (like when bags arrive late).

The legislation also aims to boost enrollment in TSA PreCheck, the expedited screening program that has fallen short of its goals. To do that, a cash-strapped TSA would be required to use private companies to sell the program to the public, and to expand the hours of operation of the special lanes, which are sometimes closed during busy times due to staffing shortages. It’s not clear how fast the TSA could boost PreCheck, however. In response to questions from CNT, a TSA spokesman confirmed that 6.9 million travelers are enrolled in some sort of Trusted Traveler plan, including Global Entry—the goal is to have 25 million members by 2019, many of them road warriors who take at least three or four trips a year.

Checkpoint queues north of 90 minutes have caused thousands of fliers to miss their flights.

While that’s a small percentage of the number of people who fly every year, the payoff could be substantial, since this target audience would “generate about 50 percent of airline trips,” the spokesman said. More than 6,000 people enroll in PreCheck each day, a 75 percent increase year over year. Still, at that rate, it’ll take many more years to get the numbers up, the TSA official conceded. The agency has already invited private sector firms to submit bids for “innovative solutions,” and at least three contracts are expected to be awarded in the next few months.

The provision is part of a broader measure to fund the Federal Aviation Administration, and it’s one of several that address security and other passenger rights issues, which aren’t technically part of the mandate for the FAA—which is primarily responsible for air traffic control and aviation safety. The measure also calls for airlines to install secondary cockpit barriers—in addition to the already required reinforced doors—that could prevent someone from gaining access if the pilot opens the door mid-flight. It also calls for increased scrutiny of airport employees who can access secure areas, and would improve surveillance of airport perimeters. And in the wake of the Brussels attacks, it would double the number of special canine teams that prowl airport areas, both before and after security, looking for explosives or other threats.